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Lake County Chase Ends With Crash and Injuries

A man is facing 10 charges in Lake County after leading police on a chase that ended in a violent crash. Katie Kim reports. (Published Friday, Nov. 14, 2014)

An Ingleside man who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest was taken into custody early Friday after an hours-long ordeal involving police chases, allegedly stolen vehicles, head-on crashes and an officer-involved shooting.

Ronald Maas, 18, was arrested at approximately 1:20 a.m. while attempting to steal a truck located in a bar near the J and B Ranch on Route 45 in Lake County, Lt. Christopher Thompson with the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

About 2.5 hours earlier, officers from the Round Lake Police Department tried to stop a stolen 2009 Ford. The driver, later identified to be Maas, drove off and lead officers on a brief chase.

At about 11 p.m., officers from the Lake Villa Police Department found that vehicle flipped over on Route 83.

Police said Maas ran off and later stole a 2002 F-350 Ford pickup on the 200 block of East Burnett Avenue in Lake Villa. He used that vehicle to pick up a 15-year-old female friend in the 23000 block of West Liberty Avenue, Thompson said.

About 10 minutes later, a Lake County Sheriff's Office deputy saw the pair in the stolen truck in the area of Petite Lake and Old Petite Lake Roads. That deputy tried to stop Maas, but Maas refused and again drove off. The deputy ended his pursuit after a brief time, Thompson said.

At 11:30 p.m., two other deputies who were near Route 134 and Forest Avenue in Ingleside spotted the stolen truck. Thompson said Maas turned his vehicle around and drove toward the officers after seeing them.

The deputies were able to move their vehicles before being struck, but one of the squads was damaged after backing into a guardrail, he said.

Maas then turned east onto Route 134 and struck another truck head-on before putting his stolen truck into reverse and striking another squad car with a deputy inside. Maas then drove forward, again hitting the other truck, before reversing again toward the deputies.

It was at that point that a Round Lake Heights officer shot toward Maas, who drove off and avoided being arrested.

During this chase, Maas crossed the center line of Route 45 and collided head-on with a 2013 Chevrolet Spark with two people inside.

Maas ran off, but his female passenger got out of the truck and identified Maas as the driver and aided authorities. She had minor injuries and was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center. The two occupants of the Spark were also transported to Condell Hospital. An official there said the injuries were serious.

Maas was arrested after authorities received a 911 call from someone reporting they heard screaming or "moaning" by a barn near the J and B Ranch.

Two deputies found Maas while he was allegedly trying to steal another truck. The officers discovered that Maas had a gunshot wound to the cheek and a broken arm.

Thompson said no charges would be filed until the investigation was reviewed with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

Sgt. Sara Balmes of the Lake County Sheriff's department told NBC Chicago that "multiple crime scenes" were being investigated.

Maas had an outstanding felony warrant for burglary, Thompson said.

Authorities closed Route 45 between Dada Drive and Rollins Road for several hours while they investigated.